Verizon Wireless has announced that during the past eight months, 100 new markets have been added to the 4G LTE footprint, bringing the total number of markets served by the Verizon Wireless network to 500.

With Parkersburg, W.Va., as the 500th market and Alaska launching next month, Verizon serves more than 298 million in the United States with the 4G LTE network, including 94 percent of the Philadelphia region, which includes the New Jersey Shore, Delaware, Harrisburg, Lehigh Valley, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Lancaster and more.

More than consumers are taking advantage of the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network. Small businesses and organizations, like animal rescue center Cat Tales in Bucks County; hospitals, including Northeastern Pennsylvania's largest health care provider, Wilkes-Barre General Hospital; and sports arenas such as Lincoln Financial Field, rely on the Verizon Wireless network.

Non-profit organization Greater Philadelphia Search and Rescue use the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network to help them perform in remote locations in the region.

Since 2000, Verizon has invested more than $1.6 billion in the Philadelphia Tri-State region network, with $186 million designated in 2012.

The introduction of 4G LTE has made high-speed, high-quality wireless an option regardless of location for the latest gadgets such as cameras, cars' systems and health devices.